(Newser)
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The US military mission in Iraq is essentially rolling to a close tonight as the last combat brigade rolls across the border into Kuwait, reports the AP. For the record, it's the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. The departure comes 7 years and 5 months after the US invasion. Because another 50,000 troops will remain for a year in a noncombat role, the death toll of 4,415 may yet rise, notes AP.

A U.S. Army soldier waves from his Stryker armored vehicle after crossing the border from Iraq into Kuwait Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010. (AP Photo/ Maya Alleruzzo)

A column of U.S. Army Stryker armored vehicles cross the border from Iraq into Kuwait Wednesday. (AP Photo/ Maya Alleruzzo)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jackie Vanover, from Spanaway, Wash., holds a hand-made message for his family, including his two-month-old daughter, Austin, after crossing the border. (AP Photo/ Maya Alleruzzo)

U.S. Army soldiers race toward the border from Iraq into Kuwait Wednesday. (AP Photo/ Maya Alleruzzo)

U.S. Army soldiers pose with an American flag for a photograph after crossing the border from Iraq into Kuwait. (AP Photo/ Maya Alleruzzo)

Phew! Thank goodness just a quiet sneaking out, tails between the legs. Coulda been worse: Helicopters on the rooftops. Good riddance! Now please get out of Afghanistan. And DON'T go into Iran (NOR let your proxy Israel go in or lob bombs at them). Some leadership and diplomacy now, please!!!